Meet the Everything Bagel Casserole: The Ultimate Breakfast Comfort Food

Nothing satisfies a savory morning craving like the tasty combination of everything bagel seasoning. We’ve packed all of those salty and savory flavors into a casserole so decadent, you won’t be asking for extra cream cheese.

This breakfast bake is like a cross between your favorite breakfast sandwich and the comforting breakfast casserole you grew up eating around the table at the holidays. It has all the elements of a classic breakfast bake—a creamy egg base, thick-cut bacon, and melty Cheddar cheese—but is kicked up by an unexpected flavor boost everyone will love.

Using bagels instead of regular bread gives this casserole a delicious texture—the pieces on top get nice and crispy while the ones tucked inside become soft and custardy. Best of all, this recipe is a delicious use for leftover bagels once they’re a day or two past their prime.

If you’re looking for the perfect brunch dish to serve a crowd, this bagel bake is guaranteed to make any weekend extraordinary. Plus, this casserole can be prepared and refrigerated overnight, so in the morning, all you have to do is pop it in the oven and let the crave-worthy smells wake up the whole house.

Recipe Tips

This recipe was developed in our test kitchen and our culinary experts have some tips and tricks to make the process easier:

Feel free to use a variety of savory bagels, from onion to sesame to poppy seed. We’d just suggest avoiding sweet bagels like cinnamon raisin or blueberry.
If you only have plain bagels, double the amount of everything bagel seasoning to 2 tablespoons.
Use different cheeses (such as Asiago, mozzarella, or Parmesan) for different flavor profiles.
Save money by making your everything bagel seasoning at home with just five ingredients.

How to Freeze Everything Bagel Breakfast Casserole

If you don’t plan to eat the breakfast casserole right away, line the baking pan with foil before use. Once the casserole is cooked and fully cooled, remove it from the pan by lifting the foil on both sides. Wrap the entire casserole in another layer of foil and seal the edges tightly, then store it in the freezer until you’re ready to reheat it.

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings servings

Cooking spray
4 thick-cut bacon slices, cut into 3/4-in. pieces
12 ounces day-old everything bagels, split and cut into 1-in. pieces (about 3 bagels, 5 cups)
4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon everything bagel seasoning
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into 1/2-in. cubes
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

Directions

Gather all ingredients.
Grease a 2-qt. baking dish with cooking spray. Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Toss together bagel pieces, cheese, and 1/2 cup of the bacon in a medium bowl; spread evenly in prepared baking dish. Set aside.
Whisk together eggs, milk, and bagel seasoning in medium bowl.
Pour egg mixture evenly over bagels.
Sprinkle evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons bacon and dot with cream cheese pieces. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake, covered, until lightly bubbly around the edges, about 40 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake until browned and crisp on top, about 10 more minutes.
Sprinkle with chives and serve hot.